Buddy Carter

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Wayne County school system's Nick Ellis for his induction into the Boys & Girls Clubs Hall of Fame. Nick has been working with the Boys & Girls Clubs for 16 years. After graduating high school in 2006, Nick began working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Altamaha Area as a volunteer, then as a unit director, before rising to board membership. Today, he also serves as the area's chief volunteer officer. Throughout his time with the club, Nick has been a positive influence in the lives of countless children, providing support and leadership to those in need. Nick also serves his community as a law enforcement officer with the Jesup Police Department. In his 12 years with the department, Nick has risen through the ranks and currently serves as patrol division commander. In 2020, Governor Brian Kemp recognized Nick's efforts in law enforcement and appointed Nick to serve on the Georgia Board of Public Safety. A passionate volunteer dedicated to helping his community beyond his professional career, Nick Ellis is a shining example of leadership and guidance for everyone. He is fully deserving of this hall of fame induction honor.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Johnson), another valuable member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess).

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Curtis), an important member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. Rodgers), the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao).

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, one of my top priorities since I have been a Member of Congress has been to make sure that healthcare is accessible and available for all Americans. Telehealth has played a critical role for patients to access the care they desperately need. On the Energy and Commerce Committee, we have been discussing the importance of telehealth flexibilities for years. It is bringing doctors right into families' living rooms and is an example of how innovation can improve and save people's lives. As the coronavirus spread and providers closed their doors, patients and providers were forced to adapt and utilize telehealth services. Just months into the public health emergency, Medicare was receiving over a million telehealth visits a week, an almost 3,000 percent increase. Those without adequate transportation or in rural areas were still able to visit with their doctor. While we have made great strides in making telehealth more broadly available, we know that Congress can do more. Increasing access to telehealth means increasing access to quality care for all patients. I often discuss how, before the pandemic, we had a lot of regulations and red tape that piled up over the years. So while I will support this legislation, it is a shame that we did not take something as important as this through committee to make sure it could be the best possible product. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Again, let me be clear about my standing on this bill. I support this bill. We support telehealth. We are all in favor of telehealth, but we also support the fact that we have committees that this type of legislation needs to go through, and we missed an opportunity here to make this a better bill. That is simply what we are saying. No one is saying they are not in favor of telehealth. Telehealth has become an integral part of our healthcare system during this pandemic. There is no question about that. All of us agree on that. It needs to be extended. But, again, the committee process is exceptionally important, and we need to make sure that we follow that, particularly when we are talking about subject matter as important as this because it is important. Again, since I have been a Member of Congress, I have been working to make healthcare accessible and available, and telehealth does just that. This is exactly what we want, but there are ways that we could have made this better. One example is that we need to make sure there is no waste, fraud, and abuse. That is one thing that could have been tightened up in this legislation. Another example is to make sure that we are not having any information that is inadvertently or intentionally being released. That is extremely important as well. So again, there are ways that we could have made this legislation better if we had gone through the committee process, which is a process that is extremely important. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I oppose this amendment. I think it is duplicative, and I think it is a waste of taxpayers' money. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my concerns with H.R. 3771, the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2022. Investing in the health of all Americans through innovative and targeted programming has been a priority for House Republicans. We have been steadfast in our support for heart health promotion and cardiovascular research through consistent and robust funding of the National Institutes of Health and most recently through passage of Congressman Barr's H.R. 1193, the Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy Act. Unfortunately, H.R. 3771, the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2022, that we are discussing today will do nothing to meaningfully improve cardiovascular health of Americans. Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans have repeatedly expressed concerns throughout the entire legislative process. There are already numerous Federal initiatives at the CDC, the NIH, and the Patient- Centered Outcomes Research Institute which are already dedicated to cardiovascular health. What the CDC really needs to do is refocus on its original mission of controlling and responding to infectious diseases. After extending itself in so many directions in their interest of prevention and public health, the CDC has become nearly incapable of adequately addressing serious threats posed by infectious diseases, especially novel ones for which there is little information about risks, spread, and treatment. Now is not the time to create duplicative programs when the CDC's management of an ongoing pandemic and the current monkeypox outbreak has arguably been abysmal. Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gotttlieb was recently quoted as saying that it may be too late to control and contain the monkeypox and compared CDC's response to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic saying that the U.S. is making a lot of the same mistakes, such as a lack of testing and not enough vaccines. I couldn't agree more. The window to getting this under control is closing fast. There are other concerning infectious diseases that need to be addressed. Ghana just recently declared an outbreak of Marburg virus, an incredibly infectious and deadly virus that needs to be addressed by the global health community immediately before it gets out of hand. Addressing and preventing heart disease is important. Make no mistake about that. But the ever-expanding portfolio of public health issues is simply not sustainable. We don't need another duplicative public health prevention initiative that further erodes the CDC's focus. Madam Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks). Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is someone who is no less than an expert in public health.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my concerns with the amendment offered by Representative Sherrill to H.R. 3771, the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2022. The amendment requires the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, to study the relationship between COVID-19 and rates of morbidity and mortality as a result of heart disease in at-risk populations. This amendment is highly duplicative of ongoing work at the National Institutes of Health. A basic web search for research on this issue on the National Library of Medicine's PubMed yields over 13,000 publications, reviews, and clinical trial data. Furthermore, the NIH has an entire resource page titled ``How Does COVID-19 Affect the Heart.'' That page links to several studies funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. This duplicative amendment will add additional costs to the bill, as authorizing the National Academies generally requires about $1 to $2 million to conduct studies. What a waste of precious taxpayer dollars. Madam Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 4990, the ITS Codification Act. As demand for wireless technology continues to grow, we must continue to focus on identifying potential opportunities to make more spectrum available for commercial use, including reallocating and sharing spectrum from Federal users. In order to protect Federal missions, these reallocation decisions rely on complex technical testing and analysis that experts at the Federal Communications Commission and National Telecommunications and Information Administration evaluate. As policymakers consider reallocating Federal spectrum for commercial use, it is critical that the FCC and NTIA have the information they need to make these decisions. The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, or ITS, within NTIA plays an essential role in conducting the radiofrequency tests that provide this technical information. The work ITS performs has led to innovative advancements in the way we manage our airwaves. These airwaves power faster mobile connectivity for Americans, and making more spectrum available in the future is critical to beating China and others in wireless and technological innovation. The ITS Codification Act will strengthen statutory authority for ITS and ensure that the work they do to advance United States wireless leadership remains a critical ingredient to our success. Furthermore, I am proud that H.R. 4990 went through regular order and enjoyed unanimous support in both the subcommittee and full committee markups of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Byron Buxton being named to the Major League Baseball All-Star roster this season. This great accomplishment is the culmination of a life dedicated to the perfection of his craft. Byron is a great example of hard work paying off. At Appling County High School, Byron was a top player on his team, and was considered by many to be the top prospect entering the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. While at Appling County High School, Byron played baseball, basketball, and football. He eventually committed to play baseball at the University of Georgia with the intention of playing both baseball and football. The Minnesota Twins selected Byron with the second overall pick of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. Byron is having an excellent season this year in which he was selected to participate in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. We are so proud of everything Byron has accomplished and will continue to accomplish. It has been a blast following your career, Byron. We are looking forward to big things to come.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris), one of the leaders on this important subject.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of H.R. 8454, the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act. This bill is a revised version of H.R. 5657, Medical Marijuana Research Act, which was led by Representatives Harris and Blumenauer, and overwhelmingly passed the House in April. The text of H.R. 8454 that we are considering today is largely similar to H.R. 5657, but it is consensus language that was agreed to through bipartisan negotiations with the Senate. I am pleased we were able to get the language to a good place. Marijuana is a schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Research on these substances must be conducted in accordance with the Controlled Substances Act and requires the Drug Enforcement Administration approve research protocol. If a researcher desires to make changes to an approved project, the researcher must submit a request to do so, which is then reviewed and must be approved by both the DEA and the FDA. In addition to the extensive regulatory hurdles that researchers face, the actual supply of research-grade marijuana is relatively limited. The supply is subject to the single convention on narcotic drugs, which imposes certain obligations related to governmental oversight of its cultivation. While the DEA and the National Institute on Drug Abuse have taken some steps to increase the number of domestic manufacturers of research-grade marijuana, more could be done in this space. The Medical Marijuana Research Expansion Act improves the Federal research landscape by streamlining both the research and manufacturing registration processes. This is critical to better understand the potential benefits and possible risks associated with marijuana use, as researchers must be able to study actual products that are currently used by consumers for both medical and recreational use. These data are long overdue, as policy decisions have far outpaced the science. States that have fully legalized marijuana have done so in a relative information vacuum with less understanding of what it is and what it does than virtually any nutritional supplement currently on the market, and with far less information than they have on legal substances that are easily abused, such as alcohol or tobacco. Until we make it easier to conduct the research, making fully informed policy decisions will remain challenging. Even rescheduling the substance administratively will necessitate robust data on potential medical use. Recent evaluations conducted separately by the FDA and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have both illustrated the challenges of meeting the required standard of evidence for demonstrating effective medical use. Both studies concluded that lack of research was a significant factor in denying rescheduling petitions in the past. If Congress does not act, we will continue to have limited ability to study these products in clinical trial settings. This commonsense solution will better our understanding of marijuana through legal, Federally sanctioned and scientifically valid research on this substance. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Blumenauer and Harris, along with Chairman Pallone, for working together on this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Griffith).

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would encourage my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport's achievement in being voted the best domestic airport by Travel & Leisure magazine. Since its first flight took off in 1918, the Savannah Airport has served the American people and our military in connecting them to the rest of the country. Today, this airport serves 11 different airlines with 37 nonstop destinations all across the U.S. ``A lovely jewel of an airport'' and ``a very nice surprise'' were just a few things visitors and residents had to say about the Savannah/ Hilton Head International Airport. From local favorites like Leopold's Ice Cream to easily navigated terminals, you can expect to receive Georgia hospitality with every connecting flight. Every day, I am more and more proud of the district that I represent. We can't stop winning. Congratulations to the staff, TSA workers, and everyone else involved at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on this tremendous achievement.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Madam Speaker, Six hundred and seventy-seven dollars. That's how much more--per month--Georgians are spending on everyday goods due to Biden's inflation crisis. That's gas. Groceries. Retirement. That's money people need to live their lives. Instead, they're using it to subsidize Biden's far-left agenda. And unlike the President, the American people can't just change the definition of a word and watch their problems go away. Regardless of what the White House's latest blog says, we are headed towards a recession. In fact, we may already be in one. The single mom trying to feed her family and the trucker paying more for diesel are feeling the sting of this Administration's policies daily. Recession isn't just a word to them--it's a lived reality that leads to lost income, jobs, opportunities, and even hope. Where the White House sees the so-called ``strength'' of the economy, my constituents see weakness. That weakness is emblematic of a failed President who is willing to look us in the eye and say that we are not in a recession, that the $4.30 you're paying for gas is a gift. He's wrong. Washington Democrats' one-party rule is robbing Americans blind. We know how to fix this! Unleash American energy independence, rein in the runaway spending, and pass a budget, which was supposed to happen months ago, so that the American people know what their elected officials value and how their tax dollars are being spent. It's time to put the American people first.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 623, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0. This bill, which is supported by a large bipartisan group of cosponsors, including my Energy and Commerce Committee colleagues Bilirakis, Mullin, and McKinley, would reauthorize the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Cancer Research Initiative at the National Institutes of Health. Cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children. According to the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 10,500 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed among children from birth to 14 years, and over 1,000 children are expected to die from the disease. Children are not just little adults, and childhood cancer is not always treated like adult cancers. That is why it remains important to continue to support a robust pediatric oncology portfolio at the National Institutes of Health. This legislation further prioritizes pediatric research and complements existing research activities of the National Institutes of Health. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this reauthorization honoring the courage and life of Gabriella Miller, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on this legislation.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Armstrong), the Republican sponsor of this bill.